Fabian Steiner
Mediaplus
Technisches Hilfswerk
Retired THW field gear becomes a campaign symbol: An upcyclingmural, handcrafted products, and creator partnerships turned the organization's 75th anniversary into a nationwide "GesprächsStoff“ (= ConversationFabric). What could make your next campaign a realtalking point?
applications
website traffic
contacts
The field gear became a visible symbol and tangible campaign element - embedded in a high-impact media architecture. Mediaplus connected all components into an integrated 360° approach thatturned the anniversary campaign into a nationwide movement, generating real engagement for civil protection.
Challenge ready when it matters
Floods, wildfires, earthquakes - natural disasters are increasing in both frequency and scale. Disaster relief is more important than ever, requiring more and more people willing to take on volunteer responsibility with THW. Public support and appreciation are essential to meeting the growing challenges ahead.
Among younger audiences in particular, access to the real stories behind the blue field gear is lacking. For its 75th anniversary, THW wanted to showcase the dedication of its volunteers in a unique, authentic way - andattract the next generation in particular. Mediaplus developed a media approach that united THW's past, present, and future in a single, tangible symbol.
Solution fabric that carries stories
The strategic core idea:
the iconic blue field gear becomes the heart of the campaign - an authentic asset with maximum emotional impact and scalable media logic. It has witnessed floods, cleared rubble, and brought light into darkness. Now, retired material tells the story of THW in a way never seen before.
The centerpiece:
36 square meters of real, retired THW gear, brought to life in an innovative mural on Berlin's Kurfürstendamm - life-size heroes in original uniforms. Every square meter a piece of operational history. Social media accompanied every phase, from the first teaser to the reveal, carrying the mural to the entire nation.
Content creators developed exclusive upcycling items tailored to the THW for their communities - authentic storytelling that reached new audiences. A high-reach national (D)OOH and digital media flight supported the campaign across Germany.
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"For us, the GesprächsStoff campaign was proof that media strategy and storytelling are not opposites. Double the applications shows: placing the right emotion in the right place doesn't just change perception - it changes behavior."
Fabian Steiner
Mediaplus
#1
Iconic brand symbols as media
#2
Upcycling approaches connect sustainability, PR value and community activation
#3
Physical experiences measurably amplify social media reach
About Mediaplus
Mediaplus is one of the largest independent media agencies in Europe and part of the House of Communication - an integrated communications network headquartered in Munich. Founded in 1983, the agency group brings together approximately 2,300 specialists across more than 20 international locations. Its service portfolio includes Media Strategy & Innovation, Data & AI, Performance Marketing, and Commerce & Retail Media. With its AI framework, House of AI, Mediaplus combines proprietary data models with market expertise to drive measurable brand growth. In 2026, Mediaplus was named Media Agency of the Year for the fifth time at the German Media Awards.